Context:

Chrissie Tully, a 93-year-old woman from Loughrea, Ireland, has spent 76 years waiting for the return of her son, Michael, who was taken from her at birth in a home for unwed mothers and declared dead. The grim realities of midcentury Ireland, dominated by the Catholic Church, resulted in many mothers like Tully being separated from their children, with some babies secretly adopted and others buried in unmarked graves. Tully later had another son, Christopher, who was also taken from her, but they were reunited decades later when he sought out his birth mother. Despite uncovering a birth record indicating Michael was stillborn, Tully and Christopher, now known as Patrick Naughton, continue to search for answers about Michael's fate. As Tully nears 100, she and Patrick strive to retain her home in hopes that Michael might return, despite lacking the financial means to secure its purchase.

Dive Deeper:

• In 1949, Chrissie Tully was disowned by her family and sent to St. Mary’s Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, where her newborn son, Michael, was taken from her and declared dead, leaving her in perpetual uncertainty about his fate.

• During the mid-20th century, Ireland's Catholic Church exerted significant control over societal norms, leading to the establishment of institutions for unwed mothers, many of which were marked by secrecy, forced labor, and emotional abuse.

• Tully gave birth to a second son, Christopher, in 1954, but he was also taken from her; they were eventually reunited when Christopher, now Patrick Naughton, sought out his birth mother decades later.

• Despite evidence suggesting Michael was stillborn, Tully and Patrick have found no conclusive proof of his burial, with suspicions lingering that he might have been among the children buried in a mass grave discovered at St. Mary’s in 2017.

• In an effort to maintain the family home, Patrick and Tully have attempted to purchase it from the Galway County Council, but have been unable to secure a mortgage due to their ages and financial constraints, prompting them to seek alternative means of raising funds.

• Tully continues to hold onto the hope that Michael may still be alive, a belief reinforced by a vision she had, and she prays daily for his return, as she and Patrick work tirelessly to uncover the truth about his disappearance.

• The struggle to secure Tully's home underscores the broader historical trauma of Ireland’s mother and baby homes, highlighting ongoing challenges faced by survivors and their families seeking closure and justice.